JP2009128259A - Lsi tester - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a LSI tester for instantaneously switching old and new system software versions and implementing a required measurement, without having to force a worker to a heavy load. <P>SOLUTION: The LSI tester comprises a by-version system software storage for storing the new and old versions of the system software; a by-version calibration data storage for storing the calibration data of the system software per version; and an interface for reading the desired version of the system software from the by-version system software storage, reading the calibration data corresponding to each version of the system software from the by-version calibration data storage, and driving a system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an LSI tester, and more particularly to an improvement in version management of system software.

  Conventionally, system software for LSI testers has been basically upgraded, and is often upgraded at least once a year.

  By the way, as a form of development and manufacturing of LSI, development is outsourced to a design house, manufacture is performed in-house equipment, and inspection of an inspection target LSI (hereinafter referred to as DUT) is also outsourced to a test house. In this case, the LSI tester is also used in a design house that designs and develops DUTs and a test house that tests mass-produced DUTs. However, the versions of system software used in these houses may differ.

  If the system software version of the LSI tester that the design house has evaluated the LSI differs from the system software version that the test house has, the test house will reinstall the tester system software to match the design house, or the version will be The LSI is re-evaluated as it is, and correlation work is performed.

  Patent Document 1 describes the configuration of an operation screen in an LSI tester.

JP 2001-209520 A

  However, in the conventional LSI tester, along with the switching of the system software version, the calibration of the measuring unit and the function diagnosis must be performed after the system software is reinstalled, and the test of the DUT is stopped for a long time. There is a problem of lowering the operating rate of.

  When correlating DUT measurement data with two system software versions, first switch the tester manually to a certain system software version and then test the DUT, then manually switch the tester to the next system software version. It is necessary to switch and test the DUT, and it is necessary to have an operator stuck in front of the tester.

  In addition, when measuring the correlation data of multiple chips of a DUT, it is controlled by a prober or handler. To that end, an interface for switching the system software version must be incorporated in the prober or handler. There is also a problem that the structure of is complicated.

  In addition, when the system software version is returned to an older version than the current state, hardware that is recognized only by the new version may be detected (abnormal), and in that case, the hardware must be removed.

  Furthermore, if new hardware that can only be controlled by new system software is installed in order to increase the hardware functions, the new hardware will not operate because the control is old when the system software version is restored.

  The present invention solves these problems, and its purpose is to realize an LSI tester capable of instantaneously switching between new and old system software versions without imposing a heavy burden on the operator. is there.

  In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention stores a system software storage unit by version for storing new and old versions of system software, and calibration data for each version of the system software. Select the desired version of system software from the version-specific calibration data storage and the version-specific system software storage, and read the calibration data corresponding to each version of the system software from the version-specific calibration data storage to drive the system The LSI tester is characterized by being configured with an interface.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the LSI tester according to the first aspect, the interface selects data related to each version of the system software in units of data sets.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the LSI tester according to the first aspect, the interface has a function of outputting a command for switching a system software version, and is a prober or a handler constituting a test system. To do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the LSI tester according to the first aspect, correlation data based on different versions of system software is automatically acquired.

  According to the present invention, an LSI tester capable of instantaneously switching between new and old system software versions and performing necessary measurements can be realized.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a tester starter GUI screen as shown in FIG. 2 for selecting and specifying desired system software is displayed on the GUI display unit 10 when the tester is activated. The tester starter GUI screen includes an installed version number list display unit 11, a version number display unit 12 currently being activated or scheduled to start, a system software execution state display unit 13, a data set selection unit 14, and a system software start button. 15, a system software stop button 16, a message display field 17, and the like are provided.

  The user interface unit 20 executes a predetermined information input process in conjunction with a system software version selection / designation operation performed via the GUI screen of the GUI display unit 10. The set selection input unit 22 is configured. The system software version designation input unit 21 inputs system software version information selected and designated via the GUI screen of the GUI display unit 10 into the tester. The data set selection input unit 22 inputs data set information such as a DUT name and a program name selected and designated via the GUI screen of the GUI display unit 10 into the tester.

  The system software unit 30 selectively activates a predetermined version of the system software selected and specified via the GUI display unit 10 and the user interface unit 20. The system software switching control unit 31, the system software version management unit 32, a system software storage unit 33 for each version storing a plurality of system software for each version, a calibration data storage unit 34 for each version storing calibration data for each version of the system software, and the like.

  The test execution unit 40 performs a predetermined test on the DUT based on the selectively activated version of the system software, and includes a test execution hardware unit 41, a DUT 42, a measurement data storage unit 43, and the like. Yes.

  The GUI display unit 10, user interface unit 20, system software unit 30, and test execution unit 40 are connected via a bus B.

The operation of FIG. 1 will be described.
The user selects and designates the version of the system software to be activated from the installed version number list display unit 11 on the GUI screen of the GUI display unit 10 shown in FIG. 2, and operates the start button 15. When the DUT model-specific calibration data is necessary, the desired model name of the DUT is set and input from the data set selection unit 14 on the GUI screen.

  The system software version designation input unit 21 of the user interface unit 20 inputs version information of the system software selected and designated via the GUI screen of the GUI display unit 10 to the system software unit 30, and the data set selection input unit 22 is the system software. Data set information corresponding to the version of the DUT or data set information corresponding to the model name of the DUT input from the data set selection unit 14 on the GUI screen is input to the system software unit 30.

  The system software switching control unit 31 of the system software unit 30 accesses the version-specific system software storage unit 33 via the system software version management unit 32 to activate the corresponding version of the system software, and the version-specific calibration data storage unit. 34 is read and the calibration data corresponding to the corresponding version or model name of the DUT is read. The system software switching control unit 31 prompts the user to re-acquire calibration data if the hardware configuration has changed from when the calibration data was acquired before switching the version of the system software. If it is to be used, it shall also have a version switching check function that causes a system error.

  The test execution hardware unit 41 of the test execution unit 40 executes a series of tests on the DUT 42 based on a predetermined version of system software activated by the system software unit 30 and stores measurement data in the measurement data storage unit 43. .

For example, the following commands are used as specific commands to instruct execution of a series of these processes.
Changeversion → Version number → Version switching command
startsystemsoft → Command to start system software
currentversion → command to check the current version
startsystemver-> command to execute changeversion and startsystemsoft at the same time
stopsystemsoft → Command to stop system software

In the system software unit 30, any one of the following methods can be used for switching the version of the system software. The calibration data is automatically switched for each version in conjunction with the version switching of the system software.
<Method 1 Symbolic link>
The system software is a symbolic link to each version, and the system software can be switched simply by switching the symbolic link.
/ sys / system_soft → System software
Symbolic link
/sys/system_soft_version3.03 → System software V3.03
/sys/system_soft_version3.04 → System software V3.04
/sys/system_soft_version3.05 → System software V3.05

<Method 2 environment variable>
The directory where the system software is stored is stored in an environment variable, and the system software is accessed using the environment variable. As a result, the system software is switched simply by switching the environment variable.
$ SYSTEM_SOFT = ”/sys/system_soft_version3.03”

/sys/system_soft_version3.03 → System software V3.03
/sys/system_soft_version3.04 → System software V3.04
/sys/system_soft_version3.05 → System software V3.05

<Method 3 Copy>
Although it is almost the same as the method 1, it is a method of copying the entity instead of switching the symbolic link. This takes some time.

  The operation when the old version of system software and new hardware are combined will be described. When the new version of the system software is switched to the old version, if no new hardware is detected, no error occurs and the module operates without it.

  If the system cannot be established without the hardware, the hardware cannot be recognized by the old system software, and an error occurs because the hardware is not installed. At this time, an error message such as “Hardware with an unrecognizable ID has been implemented” is output to assist the user in hardware replacement.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to portions common to FIG. In FIG. 3, the user interface unit 20 is provided with a correlation data acquisition command unit 23 in addition to the system software version designation input unit 21 and the data set selection input unit 22. The bus B is connected to a correlation measurement unit 50 including a correlation measurement control unit 51 and a correlation data calculation unit 52.

The operation of automatically acquiring correlation data between two system software versions for the same DUT with the configuration of FIG. 3 will be described.
First, two versions are selected as system software from the version number list display unit 11 of FIG. For example, two versions can be selected by selecting a version of the version number list display unit 11 while pressing a shift key or a control key of a keyboard (not shown).

Next, the data set of the DUT 42 that is the target of the correlation data is selected from the data set selection unit 14.
Thereafter, the start button 15 is pressed.

Then, the following operations are automatically executed.
1) Switch the system software to one of the selected versions.
2) Acquire automatic calibration data if necessary.
3) Build, load and execute the test program selected in the data set.
4) Data described in the automatic execution script (.les file) as measurement data of the DUT 42 is acquired and stored in the measurement data storage unit 43.
5) When the acquired measurement data is dropped into a file, make a backup of each directory.
6) Switch the system to the other selected version and execute 1) to 5).
Thereby, the measurement data in each version is stored in the measurement data storage unit 43.

  Note that shmoo data, execution time, calibration data, diagnostic data, and the like can be acquired as necessary. In particular, since the diagnosis data can be automatically acquired, the failure location analysis of hardware can be performed more easily.

  The correlation measuring unit 50 calculates correlation data according to the measurement purpose based on the measurement data and various data in each version. These calculation results are displayed on the GUI display unit 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the version of the system software is switched from the GUI display unit 10 has been described. However, switching may be performed from a prober or a handler constituting the test system. In GPIB communication and Ethernet (registered trademark) communication, which are communication methods with a prober and handler, a command for switching the version of the system software is determined and its interface is prepared. The command itself is defined by an ASCII character string, and the interface specification is extended so that the system software version specified in the command can be specified.

  Similar to the system software version switching from the GUI display unit 10, the system software switching control unit 31 of the system software unit 30 sets the system software version management unit 32 based on a switching command from a prober or handler constituting the test system. The version-specific system software storage unit 33 is accessed to start the corresponding version of the system software, and the version-specific calibration data storage unit 34 is accessed to read the calibration data corresponding to the corresponding version or DUT model name. , Perform a series of tests on the DUT 42.

  According to such a configuration, the system software can be switched freely and immediately by using a GUI tool or a version switching command, so that the version of the system software and the calibration data by version can be switched in a very short time. The test of the DUT is not stopped for a long time, and the tester operating rate can be prevented from being lowered.

  And even when correlating DUT measurement data with two system software versions, it can be automatically acquired,

  In addition, when the system software version switching is controlled from a prober or handler, their interfaces can be simplified.

  Further, by returning the system software version to an older version than the current state, even if new hardware cannot be recognized, no error occurs and the tester can be operated efficiently.

  In addition, the calibration data automatically switches according to the system software version switch, and if the hardware configuration differs from the previously acquired calibration data, the operator can be notified of this, so the worker can use the calibration data. Can perform related work efficiently.

  In addition, DUT correlation data for two versions of system software can be automatically acquired. Correlation data for DUT between two versions of system software on multiple chips can also be automatically acquired by switching versions using communication commands from a prober or handler. Therefore, it is not necessary for the worker to stick to the front of the tester, and the number of work hours for the worker can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an LSI tester suitable for a design house or a test house that does not hinder the operating rate due to an upgrade that can perform necessary measurements by switching between old and new system software versions is realized. it can.

It is a block diagram which shows one Example of this invention. It is an example of a tester starter GUI screen. It is a block diagram which shows the other Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 GUI display part 11 Version number list display part 12 Version number display part 13 Execution state display part 14 Data set selection part 15 Start button 16 Stop button 17 Message display column 20 User interface part 21 System software version designation input part 22 Data set selection Input unit 30 System software unit 31 System software switching control unit 32 System software version management unit 33 System software storage unit by version 34 Calibration data storage unit by version 40 Test execution unit 41 Test execution hardware unit 42 DUT
43 Measurement data storage

Claims (4)

A version-specific system software storage for storing old and new versions of system software;
A calibration data storage unit for each version storing calibration data for each version of the system software;
An interface that selectively reads out the desired version of the system software from the version-specific system software storage unit and reads out calibration data corresponding to each version of the system software from the version-specific calibration data storage unit, and drives the system,
An LSI tester characterized by comprising:   2. The LSI tester according to claim 1, wherein the interface selects data related to each version of the system software in a data set unit.   2. The LSI tester according to claim 1, wherein the interface has a function of outputting a command for switching a version of system software, and is a prober or a handler constituting a test system.   2. The LSI tester according to claim 1, wherein correlation data based on different versions of system software is automatically acquired.

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